Posts Tagged ‘family estate planning’
Why a Do-It-Yourself Trust Can Cost You More Than You Ever Imagined
Every week, we meet with families who are trying to do the right thing. They’ve worked hard their entire lives. They’ve built a home, raised children, saved for retirement, and now they want to make sure everything they’ve worked for is protected. Many of them tell us the same thing: “We thought we were saving…
Read MoreHow Often Should You Update Your Estate Plan?
One of the most common things we hear from prospective clients is: “We already have a trust. We did it years ago, so we’re good… right?” The answer may surprise you. Just because you have an estate plan doesn’t mean it’s still the right estate plan. In fact, some of the biggest problems we see aren’t caused…
Read MoreA Dementia Diagnosis Changes More Than Healthcare: Seven Legal Moves to Make While You Still Can
With dementia cases in the United States projected to double by 2060—and nearly 42% of Americans over age 55 estimated to be at risk of developing dementia—a diagnosis is something that more and more families will face. The statistics are sobering, but they become much more meaningful when they affect someone you love. When occasional…
Read MoreThe Window of Opportunity: Legal Steps to Take When You First Notice Memory Problems
You have been seeing the signs for months. Mom or Dad has not quite been themselves lately. They are forgetting things more often—appointments, addresses, payments, and names. The other day, they got lost going to a place they have visited for years. When you try to bring it up, they brush it off. “I’m getting…
Read MoreWhy Putting Your Kids on Title to Your House Can Be a Huge Mistake
One of the most common things we hear from prospective clients is, “My friend told me I should just add my kids to the title of my house so they avoid probate.” At first glance, it sounds simple enough. Many parents believe adding a child to title is an easy, inexpensive shortcut to avoid court…
Read MoreCan You Change Your Estate Plan After a Dementia Diagnosis?
One of the most difficult conversations we have with families is when someone comes into our office after receiving a diagnosis of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, or another form of cognitive decline and asks us, “Can we still update Mom or Dad’s trust?” or “My wife and I want to make changes to our estate plan.…
Read MoreWhat Happens to Your Minor Children If You Don’t Have an Estate Plan? | Ocean Estate Law – San Clemente & Laguna Hills
If you have minor children, one of the most important decisions you can make is who would care for them if something happens to you. Yet many parents in San Clemente, Laguna Hills, and throughout Orange County don’t have a legally valid estate plan in place to answer that question. At Ocean Estate Law, we…
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